Jared McCain of the Sixers is living his best NBA life after playing well and receiving the jersey from LeBron James

LOS ANGELES — In the fourth quarter of Friday’s game, LeBron James had a moment with 76ers rookie guard Jared McCain at the foul line.

The Lakers star and the NBA’s best player of that era patted McCain on his side and said something. McCain responded with his million-dollar smile: “Thank you.”

“He actually recognized that my parents were in the crowd,” McCain said. “He was like, ‘I see her over there.’ Carry on.’ It’s just cool to see someone – and again, everyone is like someone I’ve watched for so long, especially him.”

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The exchange with James was just part of their interaction.

After the game, James presented McCain with a signed game jersey with the number 23. This came two games after longtime Phoenix Suns All-NBA forward Kevin Durant gifted the 20-year-old his Suns game jersey.

“I feel like I say it every single game,” McCain said. “Every game is like a dream come true. Of course we try to win every game and every possession. We’re trying to get a stop. But I always look back like I did five years ago [and] Think about what I would have thought [and] how I feel [currently].

“It’s crazy. I play for the Philadelphia 76ers, I’m in the NBA and I guard LeBron James in possession. If I had told this to my freshman high school self, I wouldn’t have believed you. It’s just crazy to even be in this position.”

Not only did McCain get the opportunity to guard James, but the two-time California Gatorade Player of the Year also had his best game as a pro on Friday.

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The 16th pick in June’s NBA draft finished with 18 points and, as the seventh man, scored a career-high four three-pointers and two assists.

Things are getting easier for the 6-foot-1, 195-pound player, who is averaging 8.1 points and shooting 33.3% on three-pointers.

“I think the more experience you have, the more comfortable you become, like with anything else,” he said. “And for me, I think it is. Things start to slow down. I know what shots I need to take. Even now I still have to learn that you can only go so far. You get your stuff blocked. I have seen [Anthony Davis]I think Jaxson Hayes got me, but I’m learning.

“I’m going to continue to learn from it and work on those little floats, the simple pull-ups that I’m just doing in the mid-range. Then of course we’ll continue practicing with the three of us.”